The story for this film was a good idea, but it seemed to me that there was just something lacking, perhaps more attention to detail could have been employed. The main character was believable but the relationship between him and his wife was very flat. There was just no chemistry between the actors and I never believed for one moment that the wife loved the husband. Shame really, because how could you not love Scott Bakula!!
11 Reviews
Interesting story
AllisonLVenezio30 December 2001
It's easy to tell a lie--create a new identity, move to a new town,sart a new life. But what happens when you're rediscovered by the people that lost track of you years earlier?
James Stockton (Scott Bakula) is a model citizen, a hard working contractor, husband, father, and baseball coach. He has established himself in a good life, earning a good reputation among the people in his town. When he is rediscovered at a funeral for his mother, even though he is incognito, people begin showing up, and James's perfect world comes crashing down. How can he safe his own life, as wll as the lives of his wife Lisa (Anabella Sciorra) and daughter Stacy (Cait Gentile)?
his suspensful drama, though it plays like a television movie of the week, is well-written and well-acted. Bakula, as James Stockton, plays the perfect family man, who happened to come from a troubling past. This is a different kind of role for him, as we are used to seeing him as the "Average" hero. The performances of the cast are all around good.
This is an all-around good movie, with enough suspense to keep the audience entertained. If you like movies that will make you think, enjoy a good thrill, or like Scott Bakula, then this is the perfect film for you.
James Stockton (Scott Bakula) is a model citizen, a hard working contractor, husband, father, and baseball coach. He has established himself in a good life, earning a good reputation among the people in his town. When he is rediscovered at a funeral for his mother, even though he is incognito, people begin showing up, and James's perfect world comes crashing down. How can he safe his own life, as wll as the lives of his wife Lisa (Anabella Sciorra) and daughter Stacy (Cait Gentile)?
his suspensful drama, though it plays like a television movie of the week, is well-written and well-acted. Bakula, as James Stockton, plays the perfect family man, who happened to come from a troubling past. This is a different kind of role for him, as we are used to seeing him as the "Average" hero. The performances of the cast are all around good.
This is an all-around good movie, with enough suspense to keep the audience entertained. If you like movies that will make you think, enjoy a good thrill, or like Scott Bakula, then this is the perfect film for you.
The wronged man
Prismark1019 April 2019
Above Suspicion is a mundane thriller that comes across as a made for cable movie. It does try to be hi tech with the use of computers and the internet.
James Stockton (Scott Bakula) is highly valued in his small town where he is a property developer and coach of the school baseball team. He has a wife and daughter who both adore him.
However James recently had to go to the big city for a funeral. The reason is because he is Johnny Mancini, son of a mafia kingpin. Johnny promptly disappeared in murky circumstances.
At the funeral his identity is revealed because the cops were taking fingerprints in secret.
Now they are interested in James because he has a ledger that contains vital information regarding payoffs. Also his wife is becoming suspicious as to his movements and James is under pressure.
The movie makes you doubt James. How can such a nice guy suddenly switch when the heat is on him. It does have a few twists and turn but there are much better films in this genre such as A History of Violence.
James Stockton (Scott Bakula) is highly valued in his small town where he is a property developer and coach of the school baseball team. He has a wife and daughter who both adore him.
However James recently had to go to the big city for a funeral. The reason is because he is Johnny Mancini, son of a mafia kingpin. Johnny promptly disappeared in murky circumstances.
At the funeral his identity is revealed because the cops were taking fingerprints in secret.
Now they are interested in James because he has a ledger that contains vital information regarding payoffs. Also his wife is becoming suspicious as to his movements and James is under pressure.
The movie makes you doubt James. How can such a nice guy suddenly switch when the heat is on him. It does have a few twists and turn but there are much better films in this genre such as A History of Violence.
Should've aimed at a bigger audience with a PG rating
pkzeewiz26 April 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Cops find out that the son of a mafia kingpin is alive and has changed his identity and now lives a nice peaceful life in a new town. They track him down and find that he is a well respected and loved man in his new skin. His family is none the wiser of his past, but the truth comes out and a family is ripped apart only to uncover even greater truths.
This movie was setting on my shelf for many years and I thought it was a made for TV movie that had made it to video, so I ignored it. I never was big on the made for TV thrillers with a watered down story and has been actors. This movie though surprised me because it was actually good.
The direction was as basic as can be, but the writer/director has little experience and this is only one of two projects he has been involved with. The production is just as low key. Acting wise it is full of has beens and never will be's - Scott Bakula in the lead with Annabella Sciora and although a great actor his small time here couldn't save it, and of course I am talking about Ed Asner.
This movie was good and interesting, pure drama and no action. They should have cut out the F-bombs and made it a TV movie or at least rated PG and it would've perhaps gained more attention... I recommend anyone watch A History Of Violence to see the kind of movie that this movie wanted to be. 3/10 stars
This movie was setting on my shelf for many years and I thought it was a made for TV movie that had made it to video, so I ignored it. I never was big on the made for TV thrillers with a watered down story and has been actors. This movie though surprised me because it was actually good.
The direction was as basic as can be, but the writer/director has little experience and this is only one of two projects he has been involved with. The production is just as low key. Acting wise it is full of has beens and never will be's - Scott Bakula in the lead with Annabella Sciora and although a great actor his small time here couldn't save it, and of course I am talking about Ed Asner.
This movie was good and interesting, pure drama and no action. They should have cut out the F-bombs and made it a TV movie or at least rated PG and it would've perhaps gained more attention... I recommend anyone watch A History Of Violence to see the kind of movie that this movie wanted to be. 3/10 stars
Well-above the usual
caa8214 March 2007
This is one of those films which apparently wasn't released - at least not widely - and I'd never seen it listed anywhere until now. I've always found Scott Bakula's work interesting, and he's one of the more likable actors around. The same is true of Annabella Sciorra, although their chemistry as the 13-year husband and wife, and model citizens/parents, etc., wasn't exactly "white-hot."
But this was still an interesting story, even in spite of this, and much better than a lot of the more elaborate releases both on television and big screens.
Although this wasn't the typical "Lifetime, made-for-TV" flick, it had the feel of one - and certainly one of the best ones. These movies often have the devious spouse, out to eliminate the other, sometimes with a "double life," sometimes not. Others deal with a secret, jaded past, and usually has a former significant other who arrives to spill the beans and menace his/her new family. And then there's the "best friend/neighbor" secretly disrupting the hero or heroine's life, and often planning to bump him/her off and fill the void.
So this picture, with the former life, long hidden, which eventually comes to light with substantial danger and consequences, and the inevitable suspicions that the "hero" may have a dark side, and be perpetrating the dangers which ensue - is not original at all. However, here it is presented with more believability and realism than normally, and with a satisfying resolution. Often these films take an hour and 58 minutes of the airtime to build to a predictable, all-too-brief, "2-minute" resolution. However, the last 20 minutes or so here present a truly interesting, strong (and heartfelt) climax.
Besides the two leads, the supporting actors (daughter, business partner and his wife, and the authorities from Bakula's past) are first-rate, and are a major reason this story is well-above the usual fare seen in this venue.
But this was still an interesting story, even in spite of this, and much better than a lot of the more elaborate releases both on television and big screens.
Although this wasn't the typical "Lifetime, made-for-TV" flick, it had the feel of one - and certainly one of the best ones. These movies often have the devious spouse, out to eliminate the other, sometimes with a "double life," sometimes not. Others deal with a secret, jaded past, and usually has a former significant other who arrives to spill the beans and menace his/her new family. And then there's the "best friend/neighbor" secretly disrupting the hero or heroine's life, and often planning to bump him/her off and fill the void.
So this picture, with the former life, long hidden, which eventually comes to light with substantial danger and consequences, and the inevitable suspicions that the "hero" may have a dark side, and be perpetrating the dangers which ensue - is not original at all. However, here it is presented with more believability and realism than normally, and with a satisfying resolution. Often these films take an hour and 58 minutes of the airtime to build to a predictable, all-too-brief, "2-minute" resolution. However, the last 20 minutes or so here present a truly interesting, strong (and heartfelt) climax.
Besides the two leads, the supporting actors (daughter, business partner and his wife, and the authorities from Bakula's past) are first-rate, and are a major reason this story is well-above the usual fare seen in this venue.
I can clear up some of the questions about availability...
james-mccracken-15 May 2008
I was a very small part of the technical crew on this film - I work for a technology consulting team, our creative services arm did some of the computer screens in this film.
Tiny easter egg, all the names used in inbox scenes throughout the movie are either in-movie characters, or the names of me and my coworkers.
I'm not sure how much I can talk about the details of how the film landed there, but after filming was completed it was shopped around to the cable networks, until it was picked up by USA for airing as a made-for-TV special. It did not see general DVD release, but was released by USA on VHS. A couple years later, it was transcoded to DVD as they were converting their back catalog - I think they went ahead and reformatted and added proper menus and special features as well, but someone who has it should probably comment on that. As a result, it was released to DVD market with very little fanfare, as others have noted.
Personally, I found it in the discount bin at WalMart and that was the first I knew it had been available - I had to track down some friends to find out the story...
Years later, I was working again with the same company when I was invited to take a tour of some of their production facilities - they still had the house from this film mocked up on one of their sound stages (I had never been onset during filming so I had never seen it) - the two story house was actually filmed as two separate one story houses! The second story was raised so someone could be filmed appearing to top the stairs leading up to it... very fascinating to see how they filmed it.
Tiny easter egg, all the names used in inbox scenes throughout the movie are either in-movie characters, or the names of me and my coworkers.
I'm not sure how much I can talk about the details of how the film landed there, but after filming was completed it was shopped around to the cable networks, until it was picked up by USA for airing as a made-for-TV special. It did not see general DVD release, but was released by USA on VHS. A couple years later, it was transcoded to DVD as they were converting their back catalog - I think they went ahead and reformatted and added proper menus and special features as well, but someone who has it should probably comment on that. As a result, it was released to DVD market with very little fanfare, as others have noted.
Personally, I found it in the discount bin at WalMart and that was the first I knew it had been available - I had to track down some friends to find out the story...
Years later, I was working again with the same company when I was invited to take a tour of some of their production facilities - they still had the house from this film mocked up on one of their sound stages (I had never been onset during filming so I had never seen it) - the two story house was actually filmed as two separate one story houses! The second story was raised so someone could be filmed appearing to top the stairs leading up to it... very fascinating to see how they filmed it.
one of his best
quacker3128 April 2002
when i saw this film on TV last year i knew that i would have to buy it, this film is a great credit to Scott Bakula and he is a great actor, this films story is well written and has good twists in the plot, i would recommend this film to everyone.
Actually not too shabby.
ultrabunny22 July 2001
So it's Sunday evening and I had nothing better to do... But I was happily surprised by this movie. Scott Bakula undoubtedly makes the movie, but the plot's also not too shabby. It's twisty enough to hold your attention, but straight forward enough to not be too taxing on the old brain cells. Some of the acting is, admittedly, a bit wooden. And I'm not entirely sure who did kill the one guy half way through the film, or why. And why does his wife looks so happy at the end? Something amiss there, I'm sure. Maybe there were going to make a spin-off film about how she did away with him. But still, very pleasing Sunday evening viewing. And now it's time for bed.
Ingenious plot
GWJ2001US1 October 2001
If you're like me and often frustrated by illogical movie plots (Why do smart people do dumb things in the movies?), then you'll appreciate the ingenious ending to this little film.
You might also appreciate the acting job turned in by the teenager who plays the daughter. She was picked out of a local soft ball team and had no prior acting experience.
You might also appreciate the acting job turned in by the teenager who plays the daughter. She was picked out of a local soft ball team and had no prior acting experience.
Pretty good Scott Bakula film.
TxMike6 February 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Unique little movie, evidently had no theatrical release in the USA, and isn't shown as available on DVD, but we saw it on DVD from our public library. Scott Bakula has the lead role as James Stockton, all around good guy, married for 13 years, has a nice daughter who is the star pitcher for the little league team James also coaches. Annabella Sciorra is his loving wife Lisa.
However we quickly find that all is not as it seems to be. At a funeral for the Mancini crime family, police set up surveillance that includes identification by fingerprint as people touch the holy water sponge entering church. One very old man comes up as Johnny Mancini, missing for 14 years, and wanted for questioning in the murder of his fiancée. Then we quickly realize that long gone Johnny Mancini is really James Stockton.
So, the movie is about James' attempt to protect himself and his family. What transpires is somewhat predictable, with nothing new, but still plays out interestingly and demonstrates good family values.
The movie is rated "R" for 2 or 3 instances of the F-word, which could just as easily been left out for a "PG-13" rating.
SPOILERS FOLLOW. The cops and DA back in New Jersey were keen to find Johnny because they were told he had the family black book which detailed all the illegal bribes and payoffs. The current DA (old Ed Asner) was one of the recipients back in the 1970s and 1980s, and another entry involved detective Stamos (George Dzunda) who personally arrives in the small N. Carolina town to either get the black book or arrest Johnny. KNowing their home was being monitored, when his wife finally found out what was going on, he told her the whole story, but said "There really isn't a black book." He was arrested and taken away, probably to be killed, but a clue he gave his daughter turned up the black book in the hollowed out old dictionary, his wife and daughter went to school and photocopied all the pages, sent an email to the NJ DA, bargained to have Johnny/James released, her email then was automatically sent to all in the DA's address book, and the criminal investigations began, as we see James back coaching baseball.
However we quickly find that all is not as it seems to be. At a funeral for the Mancini crime family, police set up surveillance that includes identification by fingerprint as people touch the holy water sponge entering church. One very old man comes up as Johnny Mancini, missing for 14 years, and wanted for questioning in the murder of his fiancée. Then we quickly realize that long gone Johnny Mancini is really James Stockton.
So, the movie is about James' attempt to protect himself and his family. What transpires is somewhat predictable, with nothing new, but still plays out interestingly and demonstrates good family values.
The movie is rated "R" for 2 or 3 instances of the F-word, which could just as easily been left out for a "PG-13" rating.
SPOILERS FOLLOW. The cops and DA back in New Jersey were keen to find Johnny because they were told he had the family black book which detailed all the illegal bribes and payoffs. The current DA (old Ed Asner) was one of the recipients back in the 1970s and 1980s, and another entry involved detective Stamos (George Dzunda) who personally arrives in the small N. Carolina town to either get the black book or arrest Johnny. KNowing their home was being monitored, when his wife finally found out what was going on, he told her the whole story, but said "There really isn't a black book." He was arrested and taken away, probably to be killed, but a clue he gave his daughter turned up the black book in the hollowed out old dictionary, his wife and daughter went to school and photocopied all the pages, sent an email to the NJ DA, bargained to have Johnny/James released, her email then was automatically sent to all in the DA's address book, and the criminal investigations began, as we see James back coaching baseball.
Weird Movie
Kat-182872 December 2001
This was actually a pretty okay film. But you can't miss any of it or you'll be @ a total loss. Scott Bakula plays his part well and you feel bad for him that all that stuff is happening to him. The only major problem is the married couple don't seem to really like each other.
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